A Modern Take on Modern War.

2010.05.06

The Curse of the Ivory Tower

In light of yesterday’s post, some changes were made, and apologies offered. I spoke to a friend of mine, far more experienced in matters Internet than I, after amending the post.

I like to consider myself somewhat knowledgeable about the Internet. I’m a disciple of Clay Shirky. I like his ideas about the power of wasted time in the development of Wikipedia, and the arguments that he puts forth about the way that people organise themselves on the Internet. However, I am very much an amateur in its use. The conversation that I had, and the experience this morning had a significant impact on my mindset. Two things have changed:

First, Sam pointed out that “you have to be very careful when criticizing soldiers. They’re willing to lay down their lives for you. And at the moment, I’m not prepared to sign on that dotted line.” This is something that I will endeavour to be more conscious of in future.

Second, it demonstrates something that I was aware of about the Internet, but inexperienced in: the impersonal aspect of it makes it easy to ignore someone’s feelings, or how they may react to something.

Something that I have always sought, is to, once my academic career is over, remove myself as far as possible from the Ivory Tower, and to interact ‘on the ground’ with whatever it is that I am interested in at the time. It’s not possible for me to do that at the moment. However, in accordance with Tim Ferriss’s (that’s a lot of s’s lined up there) advice, “Ready, Fire, Aim.”

So, until I can get out of the Ivory Tower, and until I have experience on the ground, I will reserve judgement on the work of soldiers. I have acknowledged in the past that it's not a job that anyone who hasn't done it can imagine doing.

I will keep doing what I am doing here, assessing policies and ideas, but, I shall reserve judgement on their outcomes.